Do you have a parakeet in your aviary or cage, and you aren’t sure what their beak behavior means? Beak behaviors have different meanings.
Parakeets use different behaviors to pass a message. You will notice other noises indicating happiness, fear, or loneliness.
The territorial birds are not violent and can peck you or other birds when approaching the cage or their habitat.
Let’s check some beak behaviors and their meaning.
Common Beak Behaviors for Budgies
1. Chewing
Budgies are chewers and enjoy chewing softwood, paper, and other random stuff. It’s a natural behavior, especially when they are out of the cage.
Ensure the cage has some chew toys that keep them busy and satisfy the instinct to keep the beaks active. Remember to keep off essential documents from the parakeet’s room to avoid damage, plus ensure the budgies don’t chew toxic plants and electric cables around the house.
However, it becomes a concern when the bird develops a sudden interest in biting everything around, which can signify boredom.
2. Biting
Biting and excessive pecking shows that your pet is getting protective or trying to defend herself from enemies or someone trying to occupy her territory.
The birds are friendly and can start biting when they see unfamiliar pets or humans. The biting can also be a health issue, and you should consult your aviary veterinarian before ignoring or training your bird.
3. Regurgitating
When your bird regurgitates, food is mostly a sign of affection, and I often see them doing this to the bonded owner in mirrors or toys. The birds confuse their friends with their mates, which can make them develop bad breeding behavior.
They can also regurgitate when feeding their chicks or a fellow budgie as a sign of courtship. Some toys will trigger the regurgitation, and you should remove them plus ensure you provide the best breeding food for your feathered friend.
How do I Differentiate Between Regurgitating and Vomiting?
Vomiting involves expelling an involuntary semi or fully-digested food with a whitish liquid thicker than water. My budgie bobs the head before throwing up the stomach content.
Regurgitating, on the other hand, is a normal behavior where your budgie releases mushy undigested food, and they tend to bob their heads up and down. The food has small amounts of liquid, and the release doesn’t come with any sign of distress.
4. Beak Grinding
Your parakeet can experience beak grinding, showing that your budgie is comfortable. The grinding can happen before your bird falls asleep.
Sometimes you can hear the grinding sound, and even if it sounds strange, it shows your little one is happy. It also helps keep the beak trim more naturally than other methods.
5. Clicking
It’s possible to confuse clicking with grinding, but the two indicate different emotions; clicking shows your bird isn’t happy, and mostly it’s accompanied by other behaviors that include flapping wings, raising her food, and stretching the neck.
Why Does My Parakeet Peck?
If your feathered friend tends to peck regularly, you should check the cause. The incredible birds rarely get violent, and they may be getting territorial. Here are some reasons why your budgie is pecking.
1. Being Territorial
The territorial birds love it when they enjoy their space and won’t take intruders lightly. They will peck and bite anyone who gets near their cage or living area. And it’s good to avoid keeping parakeets with other birds to avoid territorial issues.
The birds also guard their toys or other things that revolve around them, and if your birds spend most of their time in the cage, they become more aggressive and territorial.
2. Poor Socialization
When your bird lives alone for a long time, they develop poor relationship habits that can contribute to pecking as they fear humans who come near them.
And if you keep the budgies in pairs, they get used to each other until they fight, even the person feeding them. The best option is to train the birds separately and keep the cages closer before keeping them in one enclosure.
3. Overhandling and Defense
Your bird may feel uncomfortable if you keep handling her or forcing her to stay at your fingers. Once their patience runs out, they may peck or bite.
Even if you want to spend most of your free time with the bird, ensure you give her space to fly away and stretch before they feel uncomfortable.
Your bird may develop fear if you tease or hold her so tightly, triggering her to peck you as she looks for freedom. Mishandling your pet makes her see you as a threat rather than a friend.
Final Thoughts
Your bird can display some beak behavior, and you should keep observing her. The best part is some behaviors indicate happiness, and you won’t have to feel bad about it. But when the behavior gets persistent and is accompanied by other strange behavior, it’s advisable to consult your veterinarian.
The birds are territorial, and some behaviors may show their instinct. Train your bird to be friendly, and it will keep them from lousy beak behaviors.
